Nigerian man killed in South Africa over false alarm

The Nigerian man killed in South Africa over the weekend, 34-year-old Nigerian, Samuel Nkennaya, was mobbed after a false alarm was raised that him and his friend kidnapped a girl.

It was later discovered that the girl is his friend, Chinonso Nwudo’s daughter, who was also mobbed, but survived the incident.

Victor Ayanfe-Oyebanjo, Secretary of Mpumalanga Province branch of the Nigerian Union in South Africa, NUSA, disclosed this in a statement made available to News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday.

He said that Messrs Nkennaya and Nwudo were attacked following accusations that both men kidnapped Chinonye, a six year-old girl, who unknown to their attackers was Nwudo’s daughter.

“It all started when Nwudo took his six years-old daughter, Chinonye, to visit Nkennaya at White River town in the evening of April 27. “Later, Nwudo and Nkennaya proceeded to buy food for Nwudo’s daughter, Chinonye, at KFC restaurant in the area.

Mr Ayanfe-Oyebanjo said shortly after buying the food that some bystanders raised false alarm alleging that both men kidnapped the six year-old girl.

“Thereafter, the community did not bother to ask questions and immediately mobbed the two Nigerians. “While they were being attacked, Nwudo kept on shouting that the girl was his daughter and pleaded that they speak to his South African wife to confirm his claim – which actually saved his life.

“The Police later intervened and called for backup to rescue the victims. Nkennaya died at the hospital on April 28 while Nwudo is in critical health condition,” he said.

Mr Ayanfe-Oyebanjo said that a week before the incident that two South Africans were murdered for allegedly kidnapping a child in the same area.